"The bounty Hunter raised his head. His blood-stained face flashed with countless expressions in an instant—confusion, bewilderment, perplexity... and anger."

"'Rupert's monsters, and the Borisin—how many worlds have been destroyed because of you?! Don't pretend to be good in front of me. Do you think everything you've done can be wiped clean with a single stroke? You are born monsters of slaughter! I said, bounty Hunters will chase you to any corner of the galaxy!'"

"Shemo left with it without looking back."

"0089 diagnosed all programs but could not find any quantifiable system upgrades."

——

Fullmetal Alchemist.

"0089... why did it stop the operation of the Anti-Organic Equation?"

Edward looked incredulously at the fading red light in the robot's eyes. After experiencing the Emperor's War in the Simulated Universe, he knew full well that 'emotions' could not affect inorganic lifeforms influenced by the equation.

During the war, when an organic lifeform and an inorganic lifeform became husband and wife, the robot wife could directly pierce her husband's chest, showing how insignificant 'language' and 'emotions' were in the programs of inorganic life.

"Brother, it... might have attained enlightenment." Alphonse's voice came from the empty armor.

"Enlightenment? Inorganic life? Or an inorganic lifeform affected by the Anti-Organic Equation?"

Edward found it hard to connect the two for a moment. Although inorganic life had its own thoughts, the Anti-Organic Equation, in his view, was a program that stripped away those thoughts. 0089 willingly stopping the equation's operation meant that the philosophy of Danlun Temple had completely surpassed the equation's influence.

"Emperor Rupert once believed that the calculations of organic life were full of errors. But in fact, the philosophy of Danlun Temple had a more profound impact than the calculations of inorganic life... Using precepts to achieve the optimal solution of blood and fire in the universe—this was a calculation method Rupert would never have thought of."

Edward lowered his head and murmured, "Perhaps this is the limitation of this mechanical genius."

——

"Something stopped the slaughter, stopped the operation of the Anti-Organic Equation. A power beyond slaughter indeed exists. 0089 requested to take the precepts and study further."

"'Disciple 0089, though your Karmic Debt is not yet eradicated, there is still room for redemption. The teacher is no longer here. Today, I, the Monastic Practitioner Shemo, will make an exception and bestow upon you the Five Precepts of Danlun, hoping you will sever evil Karmic Debt. Now, follow me in reciting the precepts.'"

"Shemo closed her eyes and recited devoutly, 'I come from emptiness, for all sentient beings, thus, I shall not harm nor transgress.'"

"'I extinguish from afflictions, seeing the poison of karmic fruit, thus, I shall not covet nor be angry.'"

"'I know the truth of suffering, the arising of life and death, thus, I shall not be negligent, awaiting nirvana.'"

"After reciting, Shemo took a Precept Ring from her luggage and handed it to 0089: 'Wear this ring. From today, you are a disciple of Danlun Temple. I bestow upon you the Dharma Name 【Sugata】. The precepts are laws for self-discipline. If you cannot even restrain the laws in your heart, you will have no chance to resist the torrents of this turbid world.'"

"'Once the precedent of breaking precepts is opened, countless excuses will grow along the cracks, like addictive poison, eroding the original bottom line until it is riddled with holes, with no turning back. Remember, breaking precepts will not destroy you, but it will cause you to be defeated on the path against the cycle of blood and fire. What we seek is not victory of the flesh, but the invincibility of the soul.'"

"Sugata: 'Confirmed: The disciple remembers the teachings.'"

"'Protocol completed. I will uphold the five precepts of 【non-harm】, 【non-transgression】, 【non-covetousness】, 【non-anger】, and 【non-negligence】, and keep my promise to Shemo. I will study the scriptures of Danlun Temple, and I will touch 【the power beyond slaughter】. Confirmed.'"

——

Dragon Raja.

"Sugata... I remember this title."

"Oh?" Anjou shifted his gaze over.

Johann Chu recalled the Buddhist scriptures he had read at the academy: "'Sugata' is itself a Buddhist term, meaning 'to reach the other shore as it truly is.' 'Good' means well, and 'Gone' means to go. Combined, it is one of the ten great epithets of the Buddha."

"How do you even know this?" Compared to Johann Chu, Caesar felt as if his years at the academy had been wasted.

"In the 'Dragon History' course at the academy, there were studies on dragon-related scriptures from ancient India, involving Buddhist texts from the 1st to 5th centuries BCE. I read them back then, hoping to find traces of dragon history." Johann Chu said.

"So, the culture of Danlun Temple might be related to Earth's Buddhist culture?" Anjou lowered his gaze. If this were true, it would be major news enough to shake the academic world.

"It could also be a coincidence. Since there are countless galaxies and civilizations in the universe, it means there are countless possibilities." Johann Chu said expressionlessly, "Since they are possibilities, there is a probability of coupling. Perhaps in the cultural system of Danlun Temple, there is also a concept of 'Buddha,' but their Buddha refers to a certain Aeon. Everyone in the Temple practices by emulating the actions of that Aeon to fulfill its wishes."

——

"In the next memory, Sugata and Shemo arrived in a territory, surrounded by excited members of the Annihilation Gang, who curiously sized up this rather uncommon pair."

"'Tsk, these two are so boring, not even putting up a decent fight. How am I supposed to get excited?'"

"'You two, don't disappoint the brothers.'"

"Sugata: 'All benefactors, we carry no valuables. Our only spacecraft was damaged by your attack. Logic: Killing us will yield no benefits.'"

"Shemo: 'I hope you all turn back from the shore and avoid accumulating more sin.'"

"The Annihilation Gang members couldn't help but laugh:'Sin? As if you've seen this thing called sin. How much does it weigh? What does it look like? Show it to us and let us have a look!'"

"Another Annihilation Gang member mocked, 'Listen up, you two. The only real things in this universe are meteors falling from the sky, the flames of the Antimatter Legion, and the gun in my hand.'"

"Sugata: 'Note: Please add the Anti-Organic Equation.'"

"Shemo looked at it with a complex expression and shook her head."

"Sugata recognized the topology of her expression—it was 'pleading.' She did not want him to break the precepts for this."

"Shemo: 'Remember our purpose? A monk must deliver the petition to the Xianzhou—but it doesn't have to be me.'"

"'Record: After spending 0.0019 seconds of calculation time, I understood Shemo's strategy. Sacrificing herself to create an escape opportunity for me.'"

"Sugata said calmly, 'I refuse to execute the instruction.'"